Leading NGO WWF is warning that a third of England’s rivers are in danger of long term damage that could ruin the country’s environment, landscapes and wildlife if new legislation comes into force without important safeguards in place.
WWF says that the Water Bill going through Parliament will cause even more water to be taken out of the some of the nation’s most water stressed rivers, reducing water levels to a point that would not support native wildlife such as the Water Vole and the Kingfisher.
The NGO says that although the Bill is intended to increase competition between water companies and encourage new players into the water supply market, in practice, it will encourage abstractors to ‘max out’ licences causing further environmental damage to rivers and streams.. In theory, increased competition could drive down costs and increase efficiency.
In WWF’s view the abstraction licencing system which sets how much water is taken from the environment, is outdated and not fit for purpose. The NGO has called is calling on the Government to include powers in the Water Bill in order to reform “this archaic system.”
Dr. Rose O’Neill, WWF’s freshwater expert said:
“The Government needs to stop treading water on this issue and ensure sure the Water Bill contains sufficient protection for our precious rivers that are the lifeblood of our green and pleasant land. Introducing incentives to take out more water without introducing long-promised reforms to the abstraction licensing system will result in increased pressure on rivers and wildlife. The Government must put protecting England’s natural heritage at the heart of its Water Bill.”
WWF has flagged up chalk streams as of particular concern - 85% of the world’s chalk streams are in England and Environment Agency figures show that over three quarters are currently classed as below ‘good’ environmental status.
Currently only 60% of the water that can be taken through the existing licences is actually taken. On this basis, 15% of river catchments are currently over-abstracted (i.e. environmental damage is occurring due to abstraction) and a further 18% would be if water abstractors took their full quota (these are referred to as ‘over licenced’).
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